Let’s go back… way back on this Throwback Thursday, back to Greek and Roman mythology where the twins “Castor & Pollux” were transformed into the Gemini constellation to ensure immortality upon Castor’s death. This mythological tale was inspiration for the writers on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation’s season finale episode 18, season 15 titled “The End Game”… After working with Andi Brittan to sculpt the “Mid Century Modern Airplane”, I had the pleasure of being contacted by the expert Prop Master Paul Byers. Paul was slammed with a full schedule and looking to subcontract a sculptor to create a symbolic murder weapon - a “Castor & Pollux” statuette. Andi shared my contact information with Paul and it was time to make ancient history. I had a great time revisiting my past when it came to the initial armature and anatomy of the piece but I too was pressed for time while working on multiple shows. As the due date quickly approached, I put in as many hours as I could but I knew I still had some sculpting to do before I could get to the details. Luckily for me I live with a classically trained fine artist who took matters into her own hands. My wife, Ayanna, not only drove across town to pick up the perfect sculpting supplies, she also as the Elves and the Shoemaker story goes, stepped in after I was fast asleep and continued to shape and detail the final piece. I woke up and was blown away with her clay fabric folds, facial details, and faux marble paint job. Our teamwork is dreamwork even while I’m in dreamland. As many tv shows, commercials, televised events, and movies as there are; The Industry can be really small when you love what you do, always go above and beyond, and the word gets around. May your hard work and talent pay off through word-of-mouth, Always Neil Alan Wicks~
